obituaries


His journalism career began in


1950 at the Roscommon Herald. He worked across the west and midlands covering courts, politics, and community events. On hearing of the advances made by the NUJ in the national wage round of 1947, Jim decided to apply for union membership to the now defunct Athlone & District Branch. He was admitted to membership


on April 1, 1951, but not without a dispute. At first, he was refused admission to the branch on the grounds that he was only a probationer. The logic was that the union was for permanent staff and, if they took on probationers, they would have to defend them if they were not taken on permanently. It was an experience that shaped him and, as a full-time union official, Jim was always committed to the welfare of young recruits. He was especially alive to the use of union rules to unfairly restrict entry to the profession. It was Jim’s girlfriend, Bridie Reynolds, a secretary at the Roscommon Herald, who encouraged him to apply for jobs with the national press. On March 17, 1956, the young


couple had boarded the excursion train to Connolly Station, Dublin. As they stood outside Wynn’s Hotel on Lower Abbey Street, Reynolds noticed Independent House and


prodded Eadie to call in and look for a job. It worked and he secured a job with the Irish Independent, Sunday Independent and Evening Herald as a group reporter. Leaving Roscommon, he could


afford to marry Bridie on June 17, 1958. She remained a constant presence throughout his life, often attending NUJ conferences and events. It did not take long for Jim to


make waves as a reporter. As part of the Oireachtas press gallery, he had to join the pool system, whereby journalists from different titles took turns at shorthand reports of parliamentary debates, providing carbon copies to colleagues. Jim broke ranks by recording the


contributions of backbenchers and independents, such as radical Jack McQuillan and Noel Browne “because they were saying interesting things”, enraging senior parliamentary reporters who obeyed the convention of not reporting such politicians. In time, he joined the Indo chapel committee and was later elected father of chapel – his first step in his NUJ representative career. Always interested in education,


Jim was directly involved in moves to establish the first full-time journalism course in Ireland at the College of Commerce, Rathmines. He chaired the Irish Committee of


the National Council for the Training of Journalists. A natural contrarian, Eadie was


always uncomfortable with the idea of unions becoming too close to powerful figures. This extended to branches and he staged a very public protest at the presence of controversial minster for justice Seán Doherty at an NUJ dinner in Roscommon organised by the West of Ireland and Athlone & District Branches. Given Doherty’s record, Eadie’s action was understandable. However, when education minister Donagh O’Malley used an NUJ event to announce a significant breakthrough in Irish education policy, Eadie was by his side. O’Malley spoke at a dinner in Dún Laoghaire on September 12, 1966 organised by George Viner to announce free access to second- level education. A former NUJ president, the late Eddie Barrett, loved recalling long, enjoyable car trips around Ireland with Jim carefully working out a negotiating strategy. Another former president, Barry McCall, believes he did not always get the credit he deserved for his pioneering work, which McCall describes as “akin to that of a missionary venturing into hostile territory.” Section 31 of the Broadcasting


Act 1960 presented a challenge to the NUJ. Jim strongly opposed it


and press censorship generally and had no difficulty with the NUJ policy against section 31, despite the opposition of leading members of Dublin broadcasting branch. He also played a courageous role in representing members in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.


Jim retired as NUJ Irish secretary


on July 1, 1994. During his tenure, membership in Ireland increased from 788 to 3,456 – testimony to his diligence, organising abilities and capacity to work with and inspire others. He served four terms on the Irish Congress of Trade Unions executive. In retirement, Jim was instrumental in setting up the Senior Citizens’ Parliament and the NUJ retired workers’ committee. While in hospital, Jim received


NUJ visitors with enthusiasm. Typically, he minuted medical consultations and carefully considered every utterance. Union members formed a guard of honour at Kilternan Cemetery Park as a remarkable chapter in the history of the NUJ in Ireland ended. Jim is survived by Bridie and their children Deirdre, Caroline, Colm and James. Ní fheicfimid a leithéidí arís. We will not see his likes again.


Séamus Dooley theJournalist | 25


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